'Big Ideas' Leader Tony Moore Tapped to Run Jacksonville's Riverfront Parks Alliance
The Jax Riverfront Alliance has named Tony Moore — the founding CEO of Tulsa's Gathering Place park — as its first chief executive, to lead year-round programming and activation of downtown's riverfront parks under the alliance's 10-year agreement with the city.
The nonprofit charged with bringing Jacksonville's downtown riverfront parks to life has its first chief executive. The Jax Riverfront Alliance has appointed Tony Moore as its first CEO, the Florida Times-Union reported — a parks leader with about 30 years of experience who will lead the organization handling year-round programming, activation, fundraising and maintenance at the city's riverfront parks.
Moore's career began in the attractions industry, working with SeaWorld, Universal Studios and Zoo Tampa, before he moved into public urban park development and management, according to the Times-Union. He was the founding CEO of Tulsa's Gathering Place, a nationally recognized public park, and later worked in Dallas. He succeeds interim leader Linzee Ott, who had served since the alliance began in 2022 as the Riverfront Parks Conservancy.
Under the 10-year agreement with the city announced in August, the alliance works closely with the city's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, while the city retains ownership of the parks and leads capital improvements, infrastructure and security, according to the alliance. Mayor Donna Deegan described the alliance as the key component in activating free family programming along the downtown waterfront, which she calls the city's front porch, the Times-Union reported.
